Police arrest kidnappers, secure release of abducted farmer in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested one suspect identified as Umaru Bokolo ‘M’, in connection with the abduction of one Quadri Oloriegbẹ ‘M’, aged 42 years, a farmer from Olopoto Village via Abugbudu, Irawọ Area of Oyo State.

Ayanlade Olayinka, Deputy superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in a statement said.”the unfortunate incident occurred on 29th April, 2026 when a gang of five armed men, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, invaded the community and began shooting sporadically into the air to create panic and disperse residents before forcefully whisking the victim away to an unknown destination.

“Following the receipt of the distress report, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, immediately directed a coordinated, intelligence-driven rescue and manhunt operation, involving Police Tactical Teams, Agbẹkọya operatives, Amotekun Corps, Vigilante Groups, and Local Hunters.

Consequent upon this directive, extensive bush-combing operations, strategic surveillance, and confidence-building patrols were intensified across identified criminal hideouts and adjoining forests within the affected axis.

The sustained operational pressure and collaborative efforts of the security teams subsequently led to the apprehension of one suspect identified as Umaru Bokolo ‘M’, who was strongly linked to the crime through credible intelligence and community identification. His arrest further provided useful leads that aided the ongoing investigation and reinforced the operational strategies already emplaced by the Command.

“Consequently, the relentless search and rescue efforts yielded positive results as the abducted victim, Alhaji Quadri Oloriegbẹ, regained his freedom on 5th May, 2026. Upon his release, the victim was immediately debriefed to aid ongoing investigations and subsequently taken to the nearest medical facility for proper medical evaluation before reuniting safely with his family hale and hearty.

“In furtherance of the Command’s determination to ensure that all individuals connected with the crime are brought to justice, the continuous and coordinated bush-combing exercise carried out at Irawọ Town and surrounding locations led to the arrest of three additional suspects namely; Zada Abubakar ‘M’ aged 20 years, Husein Rabiu ‘M’ aged 25 years, and Abubakar Mohammed ‘M’ aged 30 years, all arrested in connection with the abduction incident”, the Police Command said..

The suspects are currently undergoing further investigation and will subsequently be transferred to the appropriate Anti-Kidnapping Squad for discreet investigation and possible prosecution alongside the earlier arrested suspect.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, commended the gallantry, synergy, and resilience displayed by the Police and other local security outfits involved in the operation. The CP equally appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for his continued support towards strengthening internal security operations across the country.

The Command, however, reassured residents of Oyo State of its unwavering commitment towards combating kidnapping and other violent crimes while urging members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding proactive policing and swift crime prevention across the State.